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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#42: End of Story

Reaching the end of a story is a bittersweet thing. Upon reading the final word of a particularly good piece, you’re often hit with a sort of story-hangover: the ache of wanting to stay in the world of the tale, yet knowing there’s no more story to be read.

 

A truly excellent ending can mitigate that pain — which is why, as a writer, it’s crucial to nail the end of your own stories! Of course, this can mean different things for different pieces. A great ending might underscore a story's theme, or it might pose more questions than it answers; it all depends on context and execution. For more info, check out our tips for crafting a memorable ending here, and then dive into our ending-themed prompts below!

 

p.s. — We're hosting a Live Copyediting Workshop! On May 20th, Editors Tracy Gold and Julie Artz will take to YouTube to copyedit passages submitted by writers like you! For a chance to have your writing featured, click this link to register for the event and you'll receive submission instructions by email.

This week's prompts

Write a story that ends with the narrator revealing a secret.

Mystery – 162 stories

Write a story that ends in the past.

Teens – 68 stories

Write a story that ends with a character asking a question.

Narrative – 260 stories

Write a story that ends by circling back to the beginning.

Short Story – 214 stories

Write a story that ends with one character waiting for the arrival of another.

Kids – 199 stories

Stories

“The Shapeshifter” by Mariana Russell

Submitted to Contest #42

Once upon a time, there was an ugly and foolish princess. Yes, she is the main character of this story, she can be ugly and foolish if I want to. I'm the narrator. She loved animals and cared for them but the animals would not go near her because of her face. Her father was a king so he was very rich, so he would buy her the prettiest dresses and shoes, but that did not matter to her. She just wanted a beautiful face. She hated her ugly tangled black hair and hated her ugly face filled with scars and burns from when she accidentally fell int...

3 comments 3
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“Darling Anozie” by Ifeatu Okoye

Submitted to Contest #42

My Darling Anozie,It's been six years already since you broke your promise to me. Just when I thought I had finally gotten over you, you broke my defenses again.When you left me then, I thought I'd die. Maybe I died. Because after the last episode I had, I woke up in the hospital and you were gone. Anozie I jumped off the ledge because I was fighting to keep you, how was I to know that it would drive you further away?Anozie seeing you today was like a flash back and it pleased me. Hearing your voice drove me to tears. Happy tears. I remember...

0 comments 0
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“Rich and Ready ” by Nancie Griffiths

Submitted to Contest #42

Disclaimer: - This is the first Romance story/novel I've ever tried to write.It was back to reality. Alarms going off. Working all day. Ready meals for dinner and Bed. The sound of Alexa stroked Martins ear as the morning awakened. It was the beginning of the first day back to work after the summer break and just to make it clear, Martin is not a morning person! If money got handed to Alexa about hearing the word snooze, she would earn thousands just on morning alarms. After around 15 minutes of extra sleep, Martin told himself that it was t...

0 comments 0
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“I Almost Gave Up ” by Reotshepile Mahuma

Submitted to Contest #42

  I Almost Gave Up Im about to unfold a story about a woman who spend almost 6 years with pain. Life is difficult this is a great truth. These past few months and the months to come may be the most difficult you will ever experience in life.You must remember that you are resilient, capable, hopeful, and strong. You can get through anything you make up on your mind to do but NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE. We were made for these times. Remember God Will Make A Way When It Seems There's No Way he will be you guide in darkness and light I...

1 comment 1
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“A Contemplation on Friendship” by Ayse Kevser Arslan

Submitted to Contest #42

She woke up angry. It wasn’t exactly there, the anger, so she didn’t realize it immediately. It was just that – she didn’t feel like doing much of anything, she didn’t want to get up, make tea, have breakfast, or get dressed. She’d never been an early bird, no, she was rarely happy or chatty in the mornings, but today, it was as if she just wanted to sleep until evening came and it was dark again. That wasn’t possible, though, because she was terribly hungry; she would always be hungry in the mornings – which was why she never actually slept...

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“Message Delivered” by Liz Leness

Submitted to Contest #42

I always hate the way that I look right out of the shower. My wet hair plastered to my scalp, my 30-year-old breasts bulging as I stand naked. The stretch marks of approximately 15 years of destructive hormones and anxious eating scar my belly, my love handles sitting atop my waist and the cellulite of my inner thighs kissing each other intimately. I wish I could have a relationship that has lasted as long as the relationship between my inner thighs. Maybe then I wouldn't have to waste my time on useless dating apps, atte...

0 comments 0
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“The Zodiac Program” by Karen L

Submitted to Contest #42

1Anna closed her eyes and waited for the spirit of the Rat to enter her consciousness.She certainly didn't choose for this to happen. The gods had come to her parents, promising good fortune for the family if Anna agreed to have the animals of the Zodiac share her mind. A new animal every year for twelve years. It was important, the gods said, that the animals knew how humans lived on Earth. They determined that Anna had an especially adept mind to accommodate the animals. Anna protested this idea, but her parents argued that they made sacri...

0 comments 0
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“An Accident” by Lois Loxley

Submitted to Contest #42

It is raining. Big, heavy droplets that clatter against roofs. A perpetual mist that coats everything in moisture. Enthusiastic splashes of filthy drain water as cars drive through puddles. The constant and stressful flick of windshield wipers, squeaking and streaking and pushing water out of the way and onto the street. The asphalt shines with oil and water, a mixture that catches the weak winter light every once in a while, and throws back a tepid attempt at a rainbow. He thinks he might be the only person on the footpath with eyes attuned...

2 comments 2
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“HAPPY DARK VALENTINES NIGHT” by Lea Vida DEL MORO

Submitted to Contest #42

It was a cold night of February 13 when i got my first rejection and my heart was broken into pieces. My long lost crush in the university dumped me because of my looks and now here i am in the dark and creepy cemetery. I used to talk to my older brother and told him all of my problems. He passed away when i was in elementary grade but every time i felt a terrible sadness i came here to get advice and it makes me relieve.           The dog keeps on howling that night when the full moon a...

34 comments 34
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“First” by Sarah Gregorin

Submitted to Contest #42

Mama always said I was a born to lead. Daddy always said I was born for adventure. My best friend Carole, she said I was just plain selfish. I always had to be first. Didn’t matter what it was, I was always itchin’ for next adventure, an’ I was always first in line. Carole an’ I lived on the same block in our small town. We’d been best friends since before we could remember. You never saw one of us without the other. Daddy always said he felt like he had two daughters.  Summer vacation was our favorite time o’ year.  We would ...

1 comment 1
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“No Place Like Home” by Peter Watts

Submitted to Contest #42

I don’t like it here, but they say I can’t leave. Last night one of the bigger girls hit me. I think her name is Jo, not sure though? I don’t really know anyone’s name; it’s not the kind of place you go around introducing yourself. I still don’t really know why she did it? Emily said it was because I looked at her funny, Jo that is. Emily is my only friend in here, she shared her pudding with me on the first night. She’s been here a really long time and says she can’t remember living anywhere else. I often hear her screaming in the night and...

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“A Sun Much Brighter” by W. R. Barker

Submitted to Contest #42

The last thing Thomas heard was the pinewood dock cracking beneath the weight of his little four-door and the lake rushing up to meet him. He must have been knocked out when his head hit the dash. Probably good in hindsight, he figured. Now, Thomas was awake again. He wasn’t in the lake anymore, and would likely not make it back, he thought. There was a feeling of finality to the place he now found himself in, a sharpness that called him to focus. A looming sense of responsibility for himself. When Thomas looked down, he could hardly recogni...

0 comments 0
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“Always, Ngozika.” by Joy Asegieme

Submitted to Contest #42

It was winter and France was beyond cold. I sat by the lush chair closet to the window of a hotel which name I couldn’t pronounce, I still did not know how to pronounce words in French. ‘The sexiest language in the world.’ Chike would always say before singing La Vie En Rose, his voice deep and husky. My mind drifted to when I first met him back in Enugu, Nigeria. The way he stopped Ginika from causing a fuss by offering her sweet, and then we had talked about books while waiting at the checkout queue. I found out he is an English Professor ...

2 comments 2
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“In for a Treat” by C. Weisbecker

Submitted to Contest #42

When Norman Aman pulled open the classroom door and stepped inside, every eye turned to look. A stream of silence bloomed into a wave as one child raised eyebrows at the other. It wasn’t that Norman looked strange. He wore his usual navy-blue pants, polished black shoes, and crisp, white collared shirt. A twinkling gold chain peeked out from behind the unbuttoned top holes. Norman enjoyed wearing jewelry, and most recently, to celebrate his sixtieth birthday, he had his ear pierced with a large diamond stud. He glanced around as his faded b...

0 comments 0
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“The Faithful Night” by Maya Dang

Submitted to Contest #42

When you spent most of your life planning to live a happy life with your brother, it feels strange planning the rest of your life with your sister. A sister who has avoided Scarlet for months. She could not sleep, sorrow building in her stomach. Her mind flurried around with all the things to do, but it wasn't the real reason. No, it was something else all right. Waking up, pain building in her stomach, she weakly got her notebook. Glancing at the first page, sorrow building up once again. Sophia running around, screaming like...

2 comments 2
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$50

Prize money

903

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 22, 2020 EST

Won by Phoebe Barr 🏆

Title: The Firebird's Answer

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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